Utrecht Region continues to lead Europe s most competitive regions

Transcription

1 Utrecht Region continues to lead Europe s most competitive regions

2 The Utrecht Region has been one of Europe s most competitive regions since the European Commission launched its Regional Competitive Index in 00. In the latest ranking, Utrecht is in joint second place behind London, making it yet again the most competitive region in mainland Europe. The index covers 63 regions throughout Europe and comprises pillars focusing on different aspects of competitiveness. Those pillars are subdivided into three groups: Basic, Efficiency and Innovation. In total, 74 different indicators were assessed to compile the ranking. For a more detailed explanation about the pillars, see the last page. Ranked equal London 00% Utrecht Region 97.6% Berkshire- Oxfordshire 97.6% Stockholm 97.% Surrey, Sussex 93.9% Hovedstaden 9.9% Luxembourg 9.% Île de France 90.3% Oberbayern 89.7% Hampshire / Isle of Wight 88.6%

3 Top 0 regions in EU Regional Competitiveness Index

4 Theme: Basic The Basic group represents the key drivers of all types of economies and includes five pillars: institutions, macroeconomic stability, infrastructure, health and basic education. The Utrecht Region topped the list of 63 regions in the Basic group. Carola Wijdogen Director Corporate Sustainibility NS Dutch National Railways Utrecht is the most central and best-connected railway hub in the Netherlands. Every year 88 million travellers pass through Utrecht Central Station, using trains powered 00% by wind energy. Utrecht sets the standard in sustainable transportation services in Europe. René van Stiphout, Country Leader Oracle The Netherlands The big advantage of being in Utrecht is that a number of our customers have offices here as well. It s an attractive prospect to be located in their neighbourhood. In addition, our employees live all over the country and the Utrecht area is very central and easy to get to. Han Rekers Managing Director Liebherr Nederland B.V. If any one region is in the centre of the Netherlands and has unsurpassed international connections, it is the Utrecht region. Take a map and point at the centre of the country and you will find the city of Amersfoort. Our clients really appreciate our central location and we never have to apologise for being too far away.

5 Utrecht Region Institutions Macroeconomic Infrastructure Health Basic Stability Education Stockholm 9 9 Oberbayern Hovedstaden 47 London Berkshire- Oxfordshire 8 58 Île de France Surrey, Sussex 0 7 Hampshire, Isle of Wight Luxembourg Overall ranking among all 63 regions Ranking in this theme

6 Theme: Efficiency As a regional economy develops and advances, factors relating to labour force skills and labour market efficiency become more important. The Efficiency group covers three pillars: lifelong learning, the job's market and market size. The Utrecht Region was second in the list of 63 regions in the Efficiency group. Prof. Bert van der Zwaan Rector Magnificus, Utrecht University. Chairman of the League of European Research Universities Kees Rutten Chairman Human Capital Agenda Economic Board Utrecht, board member ROC Midden Nederland At Utrecht University, we feel it is our responsibility to take a central position in our society. We deliver the best possible educational programmes to our student body and provide the most fertile breeding grounds for ideas and personal development. The university offers a state of the art academic environment for science, for example in the fields of life sciences and health. Attracting and retaining skilled professional for the new economy is a challenge for every European region. In the Utrecht Region businesses, local authorities and the science and educational system invest in people and in life-long learning. We will intensify this collaboration even more to improve the competitive edge of the Utrecht Region and create a future where everyone counts. Bas de Reus Managing Director, Fujitsu Nederland I am very happy that Fujitsu is located in the Utrecht region. We want highly educated and skilled employees and our office is so easy to reach by car and public transport they can live where ever they like. One of our customers once said the advantage of Fujitsu is that it is a global company with a local touch, small enough to care and big enough to deliver. Being in Utrecht makes that possible.

7 London Berkshire-Oxfordshire Utrecht Region Lifelong Learning Job Market Market Size Stockholm 5 4 Surrey, Sussex Île de France 6 7 Hovedstaden Hampshire/ Isle of Wight 9 9 Oberbayern Luxembourg 8 Overall ranking among all 63 regions Ranking in this theme

8 Theme: Innovation The Innovation group covers the drivers of advanced development in regional economies. It focuses on three pillars: technological readiness, business sophistication and innovation. Utrecht Region was sixth on the list of 63 regions in the Innovation group, ahead of Munich and Paris. Inez Teunissen Hub manager Startup Utrecht Sjoerd Wennekes Co-founder of Active Cues Startup Utrecht is helping drive the region s economy by developing networks, initiatives and strategies for the startup ecosystem. We aim to reach for the sky and make the Utrecht Region an even better hub for startups and innovation. Utrecht Region provides us with the ideal international playground to validate, scale and market our products at tremendous speed. This gives us the competitive edge we need to deliver as many moments of happiness as possible to dementia patients with our Magic Table. Ton Logtenberg CEO Merus B.V. The world class life sciences ecosystem at Utrecht Science Park provides the best possible growth environment for our global business.

9 7 Luxembourg 0 Hampshire/ Isle of Wight 4 9 Berkshire-Oxfordshire 4 3 Stockholm Hovedstaden 5 5 Surrey, Sussex Utrecht Region Technology Business Innovation London 9 Oberbayern Île de France Overall ranking among all 63 regions Ranking in this theme

10 Utrecht Region The Utrecht Region has been at the top of the European Commission s competitive region ranking since it launched seven years ago. The most competitive region in mainland Europe, Utrecht is second only to London in the EU as a whole. Basic Institutions Macroeconomic Stability Infrastructure Health Basic Education 3 8 Efficiency Lifelong Learning Job Market Market Size Innovation Technology Business Innovation 6 5 8

11 RCI Index, an explanation The Regional Competitiveness Index is a measurement based on 74 indicators divided over themes or pillars. These themes are then divided into three groups: Basic, Efficiency and Innovation. Utrecht is in the top 5 of each of the pillars, a record matched by no other region, even among the other regions making up the top 0. Here is an explanation of the different pillars that illustrates the wide scope of factors used to compile the index. Lifelong Learning Job Market Market Size Effiency Population aged 5-64 with a degree, access to universities, school drop-out rate. Employment rate, unemployment rate, labour productivity, female unemployment, gender balance in employment and unemployment, population aged 5-4 not in education and unemployed. Disposable income per capital, potential market size in GDP, population size. Institutions Macroeconomic Stability Infrastructure Basic Criteria related to corruption, political stability, rule of law, voice and accountability, crime and police effectiveness State deficit, government debt, national savings, government bond yields Accessibility by car and public transport, passenger flights within 90 minutes, railway density Technology Business Innovation Availability of latest technologies, use of technology at a corporate level, technology transfer via direct foreign investment, companies buying and selling online, companies with fixed broadband access. Employment and added value in business services, employment at companies with foreign ownership, innovative SMEs collaborating with others. Health Basic Education Life expectancy, infant mortality, road fatalities, cancer and heart disease death rates, suicides The share in the school population of low-achieving 5-year-olds in maths, reading and science. Innovation Patent applications, size of the creative class, employment in tech, knowledge-intensive and related industries, academic publications, R&D expenditure, high-tech patents, medium and high-tech exports, sales of new to market and new to firm products as percentage of turnover. MORE INFORMATION Jan Zuidema jan@investutrecht.com For more information go to and download the EU rapport.

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